Abstract
Introduction: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a non-invasive tool useful for the detection of lower extremity arterial disease. It is also a strong marker of generalized atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk.
Objectives: To survey the ABI index and determine some cardiovascular risk factors affecting this index in the high-risk group of cardiovascular patients.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study of 215 subjects with high cardiovascular risk undergoing chronic disease management in :135 subjects at Thai Binh Hospital, 65 subjects at Thanh Hoa Hopital, 15 subjects at Ba Trai medical center - Ba Vi - Hanoi from November 2019 to May 2021. Taking the history, intermittent claudication, blood pressure an ABI. Abnormal ABI was defined as ABI ≤ 0.9 (low ABI) or ABI > 1.4 (high ABI).
Results: A total of 215 subjects participated in the interview and measured ABI. The mean age was 67.7 ± 8.6 years old, with the main cardiovascular risk factors being: diabetes (47.4%), hypertension (73.5%), dyslipidemia (59.5%). %), Smoking (42.3%). Low ABI: 27.9%, High ABI: 0.9%, Normal ABI: 60.5%, Borderline ABI: 10.7%. In the low ABI group - lower extremity artery disease, the rate of intermittent claudication typical: 8.3%, atypical pain: 20%, asymptomatic: 43%.
When multivariate analysis showed only a history of atherosclerotic vascular disease (OR=2.28: 95% CI:1.15-4.54), systolic blood pressure above 140mmHg (OR=2 .46: 95% CI:1.15-5.34) is associated with increased low ABI rate
Conclusion: The rate of low ABI - lower extremity artery disease - is quite high in the high-risk group for cardiovascular disease. However, asymptomatic subjects are common, measuring ABI by pocket Doppler ultrasound is a simple, effective and inexpensive measure; should be conducted on this target group.